fuel light roulette

[The Hypno-Toad]

Simple really, How far have you managed to get after the fuel light has come on?And then how far have you got after the "range" amount on your trip computer shows zero?

My two best attempts;

Reading - Petersfield - VW Bora TDI.
Fuel light on when I left Reading, literaly coughed its last when I got home.

Guildford - Petersfield - Qashqai 2.0 Auto.
Trip computer said no fuel when I left Guildford and I had forgotten my wallet. Got back with the engine still running.

Lets hear yours.

If this ones been done before lock away, mods.

[JonnyFive]

I rolled into a petrol station as it ticked onto 0 miles remaining, didn't dare risk it any further.

I've never actually ran out of fuel though.

[HustleRussell]

I've been 41 miles in my old Mondeo with the range calculator saying '0'.
Rather disconcertingly my BMW gauge indicates empty when there is still about 3 gallons in the tank... I have learned to use these 3 litres, it adds to the risk factor. Last time I filled it up I got 77.6L in it's 80L tank!
ETA: I once ran out of fuel on a petrol station forecourt! Had to push the clio about 8ft to the pump

[The Nur]

My 1.4 Citroen C2 used to do about 56 miles after the light came on, ran that one out of petrol on a petrol forecourt twice (Two separate occasions!!) both times attempting to get the most out of it Never actually ran it out of petrol anywhere else.

My Renault 5 I used to hate putting petrol in as the starter motor was buggered and what with petrol stations generally not being built on slopes it was easier to top it up with a 5'er in a can and bump it each time. Stupid, but top class bangernomics. I also ran that car without water in rather than buying some new hosing.

My current steed loves a bit of the old petrol so I have never braved more than 20 miles into the fuel light, tbh.

[JB!]

A6 just south of Derby to Roade near Northampton.

Fuel light on, to me bottling it and filling up.

[Ki3r]

My fuel light comes on with about 50 miles to go...lowest I've been brave enough to go is 4 miles. I never had an excuse for running out of fuel, used to work in a petrol station.

[robinessex]

In ALL my cars, I've managed to get more fuel in than the tank (supposedly) holds. Never ever ran out though.

[AC43]

I once managed to get 84 litres into the 80 litre tank in my E Class.

In was in rural France on backroads halfway down the west coast. We'd been waved off by our cherry French hosts who INSISTED we took their N Road route for the first 50 miles or so before joining the autoroute I'd normally have used. They guided us to the right road, flashed their lights and off we set. 200 yds later the petrol warning light came on. B*gger. After a few miles of nothing I saw a filling station. Closed. Oh bks it's one of those random Monday holidays they seem to have all the time in France. No worries, we'll see another filling station. Cue two more closed one. Finally see one open with lots of people standing around. The pumps have all crashed, Windows error messages all round. Many many very slow miles later we see another filling station and coast in. (Credit card) pumps all working - thank frick.

Best 84 litres of unleaded I have EVER bought.

Moral of the story; stick to the autoroutes, especially on Monday.

[minimalist]

One of the first things I do when buying a car is check the manual to see at what level the low fuel light should come on. Once it does come on for the first time I fill asap. At least I then have a fair idea of my range with the light on. However, I have no balls for tempting fate once the light comes on although if I am in an area I know has nearby stations, I might leave it a while as I like how the steering feels lighter with less fuel*

• Unless it is very wet. Then I like a full tank.

[The Surveyor]

robinessex said:

In ALL my cars, I've managed to get more fuel in than the tank (supposedly) holds. Never ever ran out though.

The filler neck will usually hold a few litres.

Paul

[DanielSan]

Coming back from London in an Astra VXR. The light came on by East Midlands airport coming off the M1 onto the A50. Just managed to get it home and to the petrol station. Never trusted that car when it was low on fuel, if you switched it off it never liked to start up even with a few litres left in the tank. Apparently it's a common Vauxhall thing...

[Kam B]

Nissan Primera 1.8, was on just before the light when I left Chigwell, light came on near Bristol and got to my destination in Cardiff What a great bullet proof car

When I was 19 my RS Turbo fuel pump was buzzing away from home and I ended up rolling the car in to the petrol station 3 miles away

[GreatGranny]

My cousin has an XC90 and to wind his wife up he drove 60 miles after the computer said 0 miles to empty. As he passed each petrol station his wife was literally screaming at him to put fuel in it. The more she screamed to further he drove. She found it amusing later I believe.

[Kam B]

Also I used to get 55 miles to a fiver's worth of petrol in college days in a AE82 Corolla GT, that was circa 2001

[andyjo1982]

I had a 1.6 Focus hire car, 61 plate I think, that I drove from near Truro back to King's Lynn on a full tank earlier this year. About 360 miles. The fuel light came on and indicated 50 odd miles. About 37 miles later I made it to the petrol station, that was with the indicator on 0 for about 1.5 - 2 miles.

I've never owned a car that has one of these digital fuel displays. TBH, I find them a little risky as it can be a bit of a gamble if you're in an unknown area as to how far you can get on your fuel, before you find a petrol station.

[HustleRussell]

HustleRussell said:

my BMW gauge indicates empty when there is still about 3 gallons in the tank... I have learned to use these 3 litres, it adds to the risk factor. Last time I filled it up I got 77.6L in it's 80L tank!

This very nearly backfired on me on Thursday after work. For the first time ever my BMW started up sounding rough that morning, needing a poke of the throttle to wake up all 6 cylinders. I thought nothing of it, it was a cold morning and I thought it might have upset an air sensor. I drove the car to work, 7 miles away (fuel light very on, naturally). Leaving work it started funny again. It crossed my mind at this point that I might be pushing it with the fuel situation, so I set off for the nearest forecourt. Cue the car dropping 3 of it's cylinders, refusing to rev above 2k and refusing to go any quicker than 20mph. I was at least half a mile from the forecourt and I very nearly pulled over and gave up... But I'll be damned if I'm paying a tenner for a gallon fuel can when I have loads at home and then another £7 to fill it, so I limped with hazards. Luckily it was all 30 zone so I don't think I pissed anyone off too badly. I did make it though, and today the car got a fresh MOT and thorough service in reward, including a new fuel filter...

[roystinho]

My tank level doesn't seem to go down at a constant rate. Takes ages to get to half a tank, but from there it seems to evaporate at an alarming rate, hence my light never comes on as I fill up at about a quarter

[tbc]

my Audi light comes on just after you've put £10 in from empty and it does about 48mpg

so you can do around 100 miles on the fuel light

[obscene]

- - - - on my fuel remaining. E46 330

[The Nur]

tbc said:

my Audi light comes on just after you've put £10 in from empty and it does about 48mpg

so you can do around 100 miles on the fuel light

bks.